Is Alcohol a Depressant

Alcohol is a hydroxyl compound, where the hydroxyl functional group remains attached to a carbon atom. Alcoholic beverage refers to liquor, which contains alcohol. It is the fermentation product of fruits, vegetables or certain grains. Fermentation is the process where bacteria or yeast is used in order to breakdown the sugars found in these foods, to alcohol. The alcohol produced thus is one of the most popular beverages and also a psychoactive drug that produces a depressant effect on the brain or central nervous system.

What is a Depressant?

A depressant is a psychoactive drug, as it can affect the mood and perception, by acting on the central nervous system. A depressant is the substance that slows down or inhibits the functions of the central nervous system, which in turn relaxes the body and the mind. In other words, depressants are the drugs that produce a depressant effect on the central nervous system, and they do this either by inhibiting the brain's ability to produce stimulating chemicals, or by imitating the chemicals that produces a sedative effect. Depressants are used in several medical problems, including anxiety, epilepsy and sleep disorders. But often, such substances are abused by a large number of the world population.

Abuse of depressants as recreational drugs can manifest in several health issues. In the short run, one can experience impairment in cognitive abilities, slow reflexes, slurred speech, drowsiness, concentration problems and impairment of motor movements, when a large dose of depressant is taken. A very high dose of depressant is also likely to impair the ability to maintain balance and coordination, besides causing blurred vision. Long term abuse of depressants can result in addiction, and sudden withdrawal can produce the annoying withdrawal symptoms. When used for a prolonged time period, depressants can lead to respiratory depression, respiratory arrest, and eventually coma. Permanent damage to vital organs like the liver, kidney, heart and brain can also take place with prolonged overuse of depressants.

Alcohol and its Effects on the Body

It is a depressant and not antidepressant. Antidepressants are the drugs that are generally used to treat the depression symptoms, anxiety and mood disorders, by affecting or correcting the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. It certainly cannot be used for all these purposes. It affects the brain very much like the other depressants such as, barbiturates, tranquilizers and benzodiazepines. In small doses, it can help to relax the body and the mind. But, in large doses, it can bring about a significant change in the brain activities. It can basically, inhibit the transmission of massages to the brain, which can result in impaired cognitive abilities and altered perception.

Overuse of alcohol produces a temporary state of intoxication, which can manifest in slurred speech, loss of balance and coordination, confusion, disorientation, blurred vision and slowed reaction time or slow reflexes. All these resemble the effects of depressants, and are caused due to the fact that alcohol too slows down the activities of the central nervous system just like the other depressants. Like depressants, its long-term abuse can cause addiction or alcoholism, and affect the vital organs like the liver, kidney and the heart, besides creating relationship problems. Alcoholism is also associated with many psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and personality disorders. Nowadays, its moderate intake is believed to provide a number of health benefits, which is however a bit controversial.

Alcohol poisoning on the other hand, can take place if an individual consumes a very large amount of alcohol in a very short period of time. It can cause vomiting, slow and irregular breathing, stupor, unconsciousness, low blood sugar, and sometimes even seizures and death. Sudden cessation of alcohol consumption after its prolonged use is likely to cause tremors, sleeping problems, anxiety and convulsions, which are the most common withdrawal symptoms. To sum up, it is a central nervous system depressant, that can cause serious health problems if abused for a long time.